Illinois Budget 9.30.08

Tuesday

Sep 30, 2008 at 12:01 AMSep 30, 2008 at 1:57 PM

Illinois Budget 9.30.08

Here are the top Illinois stories coming today from GateHouse News Service. Stories are available at www.gatehousenewsservice.com. Please check www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/news in the evening for changes to story lineup, including breaking news.

If your paper has a story, digest item, opinion piece or standalone photo to share, please e-mail it to Illinois@gatehousemedia.com.

EMBARGOES: Please note that if a story has an embargo in the short story or editor’s note field, it cannot be published online or in print until that date. If you are unclear about an embargo note, please contact Casey Laughman.

GATEHOUSE NEWSROOM

Jean Hodges: Submit great photos to the news service.
http://www.ghnewsroom.com/blogs.php?bid=240

See the GateHouse photos of the week at http://www.ghnewsroom.com/news.php?newsid=1222780356

GOOD IDEA: 'Hot Shots' feature encourages readers to take paper on vacation. http://ghnewsroom.com/news.php?newsid=1222696990

TODAY’S SPOTLIGHT

Realtors work to build business for a future upturn

ROCKFORD – When Sally Rode of Coldwell Banker Premier tells new acquaintances she’s a Realtor, she usually gets knowing looks and a sympathetic smile. “Everyone knows what it’s like for us,” said Rode. “I keep telling them it’s temporary and things will pick up. We’re all just trying to stick it out right now until things get better. And things will get better.” By Alex Gary of the Rockford Register Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1424437209

STATE BRIEFS: News from around the state. POSTED.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x506586361

CASINO SLUMP -- Illinois' riverboat casinos are adding to money problems in state government, seeing a dramatic drop in revenue that could renew efforts to change the state's new smoking ban. A new report from the Legislature's Commission on Government Forecasting Accountability shows state tax revenue from gaming dropped 6.5 percent last year, thanks to a nearly 18 percent decline in riverboat taxes. Casinos blame it on the smoking ban. With a breakout comparing Lottery and riverboat revenues since 2000. By Ryan Keith of the State Capitol bureau. POSTED.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x555999646

STATE INVESTMENTS: State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias weighs in on how the current economic uncertainty is affecting state investments. By Adriana Colindres of the State Capitol bureau. Will be posted this evening.

Schock will repay city for Bush visit

PEORIA — State Rep. Aaron Schock said today he will repay $38,000 to the city for costs it incurred July 25 providing police, fire and public works services when President George W. Bush visited for a private fundraiser on Schock’s behalf. By Kevin Sampier of the Peoria Journal Star. Will be posted this evening.

A World Series title or bust? Not for all Cubs fans

ROCKFORD – For some Rock River Valley Cubs fans, anything short of a World Series title will be considered a lost season. Others say even if their beloved team is swept in the first round, they will remember the good things about the 2008 campaign. Yes, it seems that many of the fans flying a “W” flag in their front yard, or those with a Cubs’ “C” painted on their garage door, are on one side or the other. By Jay Taft of the Rockford Register Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x345115222

Peterson can’t explain lie detector test results

BOLINGBROOK – Former Bolingbrook police sergeant Drew Peterson does not know why a lie detector test indicated he was deceptive on questions relating to the disappearance of his fourth wife, he told CBS News’ Maggie Rodriguez Monday. By Danya Hooker of Suburban Life Publications.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x345115229

'Smashed' author warns WIU freshmen of alcohol's impact

MACOMB – Incoming freshmen at WIU were required to read Koran Zailckas' book "Smashed" as part of their "First Year Experience." Several hundred of those students packed in to hear Zailckas speak Monday night about her battle with alcohol and the road that led her to finish her first book in 2004. By Jodi Pospeschil of the Peoria Journal Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x345115225

Pirate bugs a real pest

Although attendees of the Illinois Natural History Survey's annual Insect Expo in Champaign expected to be surrounded by bugs, they didn't bargain for being bitten by them, too. By Jewels Phraner of the Peoria Journal Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x436985853

ILLINOIS BUSINESS
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois_business

Entrepreneurs stay positive in face of economy

SPRINGFIELD – Audrey Austin is just getting started. Jodie Cole, as she nears two years in business, just purchased a second building and expanded. William and Phyllis Suiter have been selling pizzas for more than a decade and have been in the restaurant business for more than three. While the big Wall Street investment firms are grabbing headlines, small businesses cope with the economic slowdown at ground level. By Tim Landis of the State Journal-Register.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x459460099

Pumpkin patch results in good crop

SPRINGFIELD – At first, Marty Brady and Jake Tripp didn’t think it would be that hard to grow and sell pumpkins. After all, Tripp, 26, has a degree in plant and soil science, and Brady, 31, has an MBA. Little did they know that rain, bugs, weeds and hungry squirrels would conspire against them. By John Reynolds of the State Journal-Register.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x555999183

Pumpkin crop looking plentiful

PEORIA – If central Illinois producers have a good year in pumpkins, chances are you can count on pie this Thanksgiving. As "the No. 1 pumpkin-producing county in the world," Tazewell County leads the way, said Keith Worner, director of the county Extension office.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1424437148

Cat, Wal-Mart team up for prescriptions

Caterpillar Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. have embarked on a pilot drug program that could revolutionize the prescription drug industry, officials from both companies said Monday. By Paul Gordon of the Peoria Journal Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/news/business/x555999186

ROCKFORD – Air Force veteran Owen B. Streeper, a resident of Chenoa who fought in World War II with the 461st Bomb Group, took a saunter down memory lane as he watched battlefield reenactments and paced himself through Allied encampments in the woods at Midway Village Museum. By Betsy Lopez Fritscher of the Rockford Register Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x555999137

Couple finds tranquility with enormous backyard koi pond

PEKIN – Ron and Patty Kramer's most relaxing moments occur near their backyard koi pond. The couple also admits, with a laugh, that the same tranquil location is the cause of their most exhausting days. By Ryan Ori of the Peoria Journal Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois_lifestyle/x555998216

German students get to share American spirit

After just three days of being in a new country, Christian Weinand already has learned a thing or two about school spirit. "It's great," he said. "Everyone is proud here. In Germany, no one likes school." By Erin Wood of the Peoria Journal Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x345115168

"Central Illinois Builders, Inc., 401 Woodland Knolls Road, Metamora; liabilities, $716,932; assets, $186,300." Read between the lines. There are dozens of stories in that one sentence from the August 18 bankruptcy notices.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x555999123

Editorial: ‘No’ votes on bailout plan unacceptable

Those who believe the market should sort out the nation’s financial crisis are about to find out what its solution is. An editorial from the State Journal-Register.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/opinions/editorials/x1424437067

Editorial: Americans can't afford a do-nothing Congress

On Monday the U.S. House of Representatives did what would have made all the sense in the world, if time were not of the essence, which is defeat a flawed $700 billion-plus bailout of America's financial sector. An editorial from the Peoria Journal Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/opinions/editorials/x1424437070

The defending champion Packers have now passed the preseason favorite Vikings (1-3) as most critics’ pick to win the NFC North. Quick Shots now likes the Bears. By Matt Trowbridge of the Rockford Register Star. Will be posted this evening.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/sports/pro/football/bears/x345115083

BEARS:

Matt Trowbridge: Bears need to stay on attack

The Bears are three or four plays away from being 4-0. And one play away from being 1-3.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/sports/pro/football/bears/x1424437012

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